Re: Freight is booming

[markbau1@aol.com (MarkBau1)]

<<<<<<<A loco shortage can be created simply by having a policy to flog off
every 
loco that is deemed old , unreliable or uneconomic to some one else , who very 
often finds that the sold loco is in fact magically not unrealiable or 
uneconomic once its been purchased.
If the locomotives arnt unreliable enuf then we make sure they get that way 
by not maintaining them properly,and eventually we can them flog them off 
using the excuse of unreliability.(How long until the XP power cars go this 
way.)>>>>>>>>>

Old loco's are usually flogged off because they are fuel hogs. case in point.
BNSF has hundreds of SD40-2's which are in A-1 condition, (BN always took care
of their loco's) BNSF are dying to get rid of them, not because they are not
reliable, (in fact they are MORE reliable than some recent orders) they want to
get rid of them because their fuel consumption is killing them. New loco's need
less shop time too which means they are out earning money more too.

There is nothing wrong with a 40 year old loco if it has/is been maintained but
fuel costs and shop time increase with age compared to newer loco's. And Craig,
please dont quote WallyRail fuel consumption figures again, EMD, GE and every
class 1 in the US would prove you wrong.

Actually with decent maintenence the B's and S's should last a while yet given
their sedentary lifestyle these days.

Mark.


THE ROCK is dead
Long live THE ROCK!